Machine for inflating hollow rubber articles



May 2U 1924.J

lF. T. RoBERTs MACHINE FOR INFLATlNG HOLLOW RUBBER ARTICLES l 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 20.. 1921 *gf 'A 7i' A ZVHZNTOJE 3129@ Troja/vm Z?? Z v7@ May 20 1924. 1,494,709

F. T. ROBERTS.

- MACHINE FOR INFLATING HoLLow RUBBER ARTICLES Filed June 20. 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 d T2 O avvii/5 May 20 1924. 1,494,70

F. T. ,ROBERTS MACHINE FoR LNFLATNG HoLLpw RUBBER ARTICLES Filed June 20. 1921 -v 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 l/ @my MMM,

25 close the opening made by the needle.

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atented Ti UNITE FRED) THOMAS ROBERTS. OF- PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHNE FOR INFLATING- HOLLOW RUBBER ARTICLES.

Application led June 20, 1921. Serial No. 478,884.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED THOMAS ROB- ER'rS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have 1nvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Machines for Inflat-ing Hollow Rubber Articles, of which` the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference j being had to the accompanying drawings.

One of the objects of this invention'is to provide for the rapid and' economical mlation of hollow elastic articles, rubber balls for instance. Another object is to eiiectively seal the inflating opening.

Heretofore in the manufacture of rubber balls it has been customary to secure to the interior surface, before the parts of the `rball were vulcanized, a plug-of paral rubber and 2G after vulcanization to insert manually a hypodermic needle through the plug, inflating air being admitted through the needle, the needle beingthen withdrawn and the elasticity of the plug being relied upon to Such a method of manufacture has several disadvantages. The plugs frequently fail to entirely close the opening and allow gradual leakage` of the pressure within the article;

sometimes the plugs becomejloose from the wall of the article, whereupon it immediately loses its internal pressure; not infrequently the operator fails to properly locate the plug and inserts the needle through the wall as of the article at the side of the plug so that n o seal is obtained.. There is also a considerable expense in the aggregate in the cost of the plugs and in the labor of placing and piercing them.

It is the object of my invention to do away with allL of the above disadvantages. I accomplish this, first by mechanically feeding the articles from a supply and holding them one after another in juxtaposition with the 4,5 hollow needle, which is moved by mechanism into the article and, secondly by injecting cement into the interior of the article which upon withdrawal of the inflating needle will seal the opening. More Aparticularly I 5o puncture the wall of the held article with a hollow needle and lirst inject cement through thls needle into the interior, then shut internal pressure, follows the 'needle through the puncture and seals it. f l

My invention'provides'very simple and efticient mechanism for automatically performing the various movements mentioned and delivering thel articles in rapid succession. The invention is hereinafter more fully explained and-the essential novel features summarized inthe claims.

In thedrawings Fig. 1 is a plan of one embodiment of'my invention; Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is an end ele- I vation; Fig. 4 is a vertical section in a plane parallel with Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an enlarged section through the needle and valveson a plane indicated by the line 5 5 in Fig. 4;

Figs. 6. and 7 are enlarged details illustraty Ving the needle when insertedin the rubber article and after' withdrawal therefrom; Fig. 8 is a detail of a relief valve which may be employed on one of the airlines.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, 1() designates a ho per adapted to contain hollow rubberA artic es, as for instance balls A, this hopper .having a tubular depending neck portion 11, `down which the ballsv may drop by lgravity in a single column. 12 indicates a suitable 5 gate mechanism for feeding the balls one after another from the base of the hopper to the inflating mechanism and thence to the discharge point. As shown this gate has a vertical cylindrical body 'of a diameter slightly greater than that of the ball anda helght perferably slightly less than that of the ball. At the upper end of the cylindrical body on opposite sides are flanges 14 and 15 which are adapted to shut off discharge i from the hopper neck when the' body 1s moved in either direction from alignment with that neck. 16 designates a horizontal table of the machine on which the lowermost ball rests. This table is carried on uprightstandards 17, rising from a bed plate 18. The hollow perforating.. needle is designated 20. i It is mounted below the table 16 and may be raised through an opening 22 therein. At one edge of the table is a disharge chute 25 for receiving the inflated alls.

It will be seen from the above described construction that the bottommost ball in the hopper drops by gravity into the cage 12 and that thereafter if this cage is move toward the right in Fig. 4 it will carry the ball over the needle and beneath a suitable abutment 24 projecting from the hopper I neck, while at the same time the gate 14 will shut oil' the discharge from the hopper. rtfter inlation by. the hollow needle as here1nv after explained, a reverse and greater movementof the cage will carry the inflated ball to the leftubeyondthe table 16 where it will drop by gravity down the discharge chute 25,

i for giving the gate mechanism the movement described. Ihave/shownfsuch movement as caused by the same shaft which operates the y needle and its valves as; hereinafter explained. I v Y This shaft is designated 301and is shown as'moun'ted'in lthe standards 17 and as carrying a worm Wheel 31, meshing with a l worm 32 on` the shaft 33 of which is a pulley 34 which is connected by a` belt 35 with a pulley 36 on the armature shaft of an electric motor 37. A suitable cam 40 on the end of the shaft operates against a roller on a rock arm 41 secured to ajrock shaft 42 journaled in an extension of they table 16d..

` On the upper end of this rock shaft is a Fig. i

rock arm 44-carrying the cage or gate member 12.` A spring 46 tends to keep the arm 41 in engagement with thecam 40 and to force the gate member toward the right in Thehollow needle is mounted to slide vertically in a suitable box-like member.'50 secured to the under side of the table 16. 0n the lower end ofthis needle is a roller 52 bearing against a cam 53 on the shaft 30. A suitable spring 54 surroundingthe needle tends 'to depress it with the roller in engagement with the cam. At the propertime, however, an increasing edge of the cam shoves upwardly on the needle to causev it to puncture the article, as the ball A. The norf mal or idle position of the needle is as indicated in Fig. 7. When raised by the cam it has the position indicated in Fig. 6, the smalll active portion 55 having passed through the wall and the. eye 56 lying above it.

The body of the needleis formed with an enlargement 57 to which are secured nipples 58 and 59 (Fig. 5) the nipples being .shown as tapped into the boss. They communicate with the internal bore of the needle. Coupled to the nipples 58 and 59 are flexible tubes 61 and 62 adapted to convey air and cement respectively to the needle. Each of these tubes leads from a suitable controlling valve. Thus the tube 61 is coupled to nipple.

63 in the `valve casing 64, to which leads an air pi e 65. This valve is controlled by a suitab e plunger 66 having a downwardly extending rod 67 surrounded by a downwardly acting spring 68. 0n the lower "end of the rod is a roller bearing on a cam 69 on igeaavoe the shaft 30. The'eement valve comprises a casing'71 and a lunger`72 therein for controlling communlcation between the cement pipe 73 and the discharge'pipe 62. 'The plunger extends downwardly and coacts with a cam`75 on the shaft 36, a spring 76 tending to depress the plunger. y

The various cams on the shaft 3,0 are so timed in relation to each other that immediately .after the gate member has brought the article into a position over the needle the cam 53 acts and raises `the needle to puncture the article, both valves'being still closed. Then the cam 75 acts to open the valve 71, whereupon cement. is admitted under pressure from the line 73 through the valve 71 and pipe 62 into the hollow needleand thence through it into the interior of the ball i as indicated at C in Fig. 6. Then the cam 75 allows the spring 76 to close the cement valve and the cam 69 opens the air valve 64. This admits air from the pipe 65 through the valve and pipe 61 and hollow needle into the interior of the ball-to inflate it. Then the cam 69 allows the spring 68 to close the air-valve. jmmediately after the closing of the air valve 'the cam 53 relieves the pressure on the'needle and the spring 54 moves it downwardly out of engagement with the article, whereupon the cement not only closes over the vpuncture on the inside, but passes through it and" effectively seals it-.as indicated in Fig. 7. The cement employed is of rapidly drying character, and is of sulicient consistency so that it will not be unduly gorlced out by the air pressure within the Following the withdrawal of the needle the cam 4() acts on the arm 41 to carry the ni'shed ball over the discharge chute 25 down which it'drops by gravity. On the return stroke of the arm a fresh ball drops into the cage and is carried to the intlating position, and the operation automatically repeated.

Any suitable arrangement may be employed to supply the air vpressure and feed the cement. I have shown a cement tank 8() having a removable air-tight top 81 through which the cement may be inserted. The pipe,

73 leads from the 'bottom of this tank. An air pipe-83lleads to the tank and enables air pressure to be supplied to the interior to force the cement downward'with a positive ressure. This air pipe 83 may connect by a with the air pi e 65 'which leads from any suitable source o air supply, as for example a tank 85.

A suitable reliefI Valve may prevent the air pressure to the'needle or cement tank being excessive. By way of example, T have indicated such valve in Figs. 1 and 8 where indicates a' tubular body portion connected with the T 91 which connects the pipes 65 and 83. On the body 90 is a cap 92 having openings 93 controlled by an external disk valve 91- normally seated by an internal spring 95 acting on the valve rod 96. An adjustment of the valve nut 97 may ivary the maximum` pressure which may be transmitted. Y

It will be seen that I have provided a very simple mechanism which operates entirely .automatically to take the articles, one after the other from a suitable supply, inflate them, seal the opening, and discharge the articles. -It is onlyvnecessary for the attend.

ant to supply the articles to the hopper and remove the finished product and occasionally supply cement to the tank. The article is not only produced much more -economically than by the old method but the) various disadvantages attendant on the employment of the para-plug are avoided.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a machine for inflating hollow rubber articles, the combination with a movably mounted hollow needlev of means for feeding the articles one after the other into the path of such needle and there holding the article, means for then moving the needle to cause it to puncture the article and thereafter withdrawing it therefrom, and means for forcing Huid through the needle while its point is within the'article.

2. Ina machine of the character described, the combination 'of means for holdin an indiscriminate supply of hollow rub er arrilcles, a movably mounted hollow needle.,

eans for presenting the articles successively to the needle, means for causing theneedle to enter the article, and means for causing fluid to pass through the needle into the interior of the article.`

3. The combination of a hopper for holding a supply of rubber balls, a movably mounted hollow needle, means for feeding such balls one after the other from the hopper into the path of the needle, means for causing said needle to vthen puncture such ball, and a conduit for fluid communicating with the needle, there being means for withdrawing the needle from the ball after fluid has been fed through the conduit to the interior of the ball. I 1

4. The combination with means for feeding hollow rubber articles one after the other froma supply thereof, 0f a hollow pointed needle, means for causing it to puncture the rubber articles and enter the same. a conduit for fluid communicating with the hollow needle, a valve in said conduit and mechanism for controlling the valve.

5. The combination of means for holding a supply of hollow articles, a hollow needle, mechanism for causin the same to puncture the articles successive y, mechanism for automatically admitting fluid through the needle to the interior of the article, and mechanismfor automatically closing the supply lof such fluid between successive insertions ofy the needle.

6. The combination of a hopper 'adaptedy to contain a supply of articles to be inflated, a hollow needle, a gate mechanism operating to effect presentation of one article after-anl other to the needle, mechanism for causing the needle to successively enter the articles, a conduit leading to the needle, a valve in said conduit, and mechanism for automatically controlling the valve. f

7 In a machine of the character described, the combination of a hopper adapted to contain hollow articles, a depending neck therefor down-which the articles may pass, a gate acting on` the lowermost article, a hollow needle, mechanism for shoving it into lowermost article, and mechanism for injecting ling the owermost article,'a hollow needle,

mechanism for shoving the needle upwardly into the article, and thereafterwithdrawing it, mechanism for injecting compressed fluid into the article while the needle is inserted,

and mechanism for ejecting thearticle .after the needle has been withdrawn, and mechanism for moving said gate after the needle iswithdrawnto carry the article tol a discharge position. v

10. In a machine ofthe character described, the combination of means for holding a supply of hollow articles, a hollow needle, gate mechanism for causing articles to be supplied one after the other from the supply to the hollow needle and then discharged, mechanism for moving the needle into and outof articles so presented, a conduit leading to the needle, a valve in said conduit, and mechanism for automatically operating the valve.

11. In a mach'ne for inlating hollow articles, the combination of means for feeding the articles one after another, means for putting cement into the article, and mechanism for thereafter injecting inflating fluid into the article through a punturing needle, the cement thereafter serving to seal the opening which was occupied by vthe needle after it has been withdrawn.

l 12. In a machine for inlating hollow articles, the combination of means for holding a supply of hollow rubber articles, means for ,feeding them one` after `the other from the supply to a position for inflation, a movably mounted hollow needle adapted to puncturathe article at such position, mechanism for injecting cement into the article through such needle and mechanism for injecting inflatingfluid into the article, the cement thereafter serving to seal the opening through. which the fluid is injected.v

13.,I ln'a machine for nilating hollow articles, the combination of mechanism for holding thearticle, a hollow needle, mechanism for injecting it into the article and thereafter withdrawing it therefrom, means for causing cementto pass to the interior of the article through the hollow needle, and mechanism for causing an inflating fluid to pass into the interiorof the article through the r withdrawing it therefrom, and means for forcing cement ythrough the tubular needle into the article and thereafter forcing inating fluid through the needle into the article.y

16." In a machine .of the character described, the combination of a hollow needle, two conduits leading thereto from sources of supply of cement under continuous feeding pressure and compressed fluid respectively, and valves in the respective conduits, and mechanism for alternately opening and closing the respective valves.

17. rlhe combination of a hopper adapted to'contain a supply of articles to be inflated, a hollow needle, a gate mechanism operating to effect presentatlonv of one article after another to the needle, mechanism for causing the needle to successively enter the articles, two conduits leading to the needle, valves in the respective conduits, means for supplying uid under pressure to one valve, means/for supplying cement to the other, and automatic ,meansylfor operating said valves.

18. In a machine of the character described, the combination with means for holding a supply of articles, and feeding them successively one after the other, a hollow needle, a pair of conduits leading' to` the needle trema sour of supplyl of oeminea? pressed fluid, .and a source of sppply vof cement respectively, valves in the respective conduits, and automatic/mechanism for in- 20. In a machine for inflating hollow articles, the combination of means for holding the article, mechanism for putting cement into the interior of the article at its lowermost portion, a hollow needle, mechanism for causing it to puncture the article, and mechanism for injecting fluid through the needle into the interior of the article, there being mechanismfor thereafter withdrawing the hollow needle whereby the cement may seal the opening.

21. In a machine for inflating hollow articles, the combination of mechanism for holding the article, ahollow needle, mechanism for causing it to enter the article near the bottom and be thereafter with-drawn therefrom, means for causing cement to pass to the interior of the article through the hollow needle -into position where it may rest by gravity about the needle, mechanism for causin an inlating Huid to pass into the interior o` the article through the hollow needle. v

22. ln a machine of the character de-` scribed, the combination of a hollow needle slidably mounted to move substantially vertically upward, means for holding a hollow rubber article over it, mechanism for moving the needle upwardly into the -article and thereafter withdrawing it, and mechanism for injecting fluid through the needle whiley it isin its upward position. A

23. ln a machine of the character described, the combination of a table, a hollow, needle slidably mounted beneath the table, means for guiding a hollow rubber article on top of the table and over thev needle and thereholding it, mechanism for movin the needle upwardly through the table an finto,l the article and thereafter withdrawing it, and mechanism for injecting fluid through the needle while it is in its upward position.

24. ln a machine of the character de- Elfi I" scribed, the combination of a table, a hollow needle slidably mounted beneath, the table, mechanism for moving the needle upwardly through the table and thereafter" withdrawing it, means for holding a supply of articles to be inated, means :for positionin the articles one after the other above t e table over the needle, and means for in'ecting fluid through the-needle.

25. n a machine ofthe character described, the combination of atable, a hollow needle slidably mounted beneath the table, means for holding a supply of articles to be inflated, means for positioning the articles one after the other above the table over4 the needle, mechanism for moving the needle upwardly through the table into the article, and thereafter withdrawing it, two conduits communica-ting with the needle, and mechanisms Jfor injecting cement through one conduit and compressed'uid through the other corliduit while the needle is wit in the artic e. i

26. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a hollow needle, means for positioning a hollow article in juxtaposition therewith, a conduit communicating with the needle, a valve in said conduit and cam mechanism for operating said valve.

27. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a hollow needle, means for positioning a hollow article in juxtaposition therewith, cam mechanism for causing the needle to enter the article and thereafter withdraw therefrom, a conduit communicating with the needle, a valvev in said i conduit, and'cam mechanism for operating said valve. v

28. The combination with a hollow needle, of two conduits leading therefrom, valves inthe respective conduits, and cams for opening and closingv the respective valves.

29. The combination with a hollow needle, two conduits leading therefrom, valves in the respective conduits, a cam for mov'- -ing the needle, and cams for opening and closing the respective valves.

30. The combination 'with a hollow needle, two conduits leading therefrom, valves in the respective conduits, acam for moving the needle, and cams for opening andv closing'the respective valves, a shaft carrying said cams, and mechanism for rotating sald shaft.

31. The combinationpf a hollow needle, two conduits leading thereto, valves in the respective conduits, mechanism for holding a' sup ly of articles, movable gate mechanism or causing the articles to be held one after the other in juxtaposition ywith the needle and thereafter discharged, a shaft, and cam mechanism thereon for moving the hollow needle, for moving the gate mechanism and for operating the respective valves.

32. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a table, a hollow needle slidably mounted beneath it andy adapted to project upwardly through it, a hopper above the table having a neck, gate mechanism at the base of the neck adapted to hold the bottommost article in juxtaposition with the needle and thereafter carr it to a discharge position, two conduits lea ing to the needle, valves in the respective conduits, a shaft,l foul" cams on the shaft for. operating the gate mechanism, the hollow needle and the two valves respectively.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aix my signature.

FRED THOMAS ROBERTS. v 

